No evidence of train link to wildfire in Lytton, safety board says

LYTTON, B.C. — The Transportation Safety Board says there’s no evidence that a freight train sparked a wildfire that destroyed the town of Lytton, B.C., this summer.

The agency said Thursday that unless new information comes forward, it has no need to investigate further.

It said the BC Wildfire Service and RCMP continue to investigate the inferno that began on June 30 and caused millions of dollars in damage.

The board’s report says investigators confirmed with both CN and CP railways that there had been no rail-grinding activities and found no signs of hot bearings, burned brakes or other potential fire-creating causes in a train that went through the community that day.

The safety board said in July that it sent investigators to the area to investigate any potential link to trains.

CP Railway said in a statement in July that it found nothing to indicate that any of its trains or equipment that passed through

Lytton caused or contributed to the fire, while CN Rail said video footage posted on social media after the fire was not connected to Lytton.

Jackie Tegart, the Opposition Liberal member of the legislature who represents Lytton, has said Premier John Horgan has not followed through on a pledge to rebuild the village.